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NHL analyst links star Mikko Rantanen to the Atlantic Division in free agency
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NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman believes that there's a chance pending free agent Mikko Rantanen could potentially join the Atlantic Division this summer.
NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman believes that there's a chance pending free agent Mikko Rantanen could potentially join the Atlantic Division this summer, especially if they decide to let a key player walk.
It's going to be one of the biggest summers in NHL free agency thanks to multiple top names set to hit the open market.
One player is Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, and the other is Carolina Hurricanes forward Mikko Rantanen, who was recently acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Colorado Avalanche.
But if Marner were to depart in free agency, could the Maple Leafs target Rantanen as his replacement? NHL insider Elliotte Friedman thinks so, as indicated on his recent '32 Thoughts' podcast.
Teams will make room for this guy. If they have a feeling that he's going to come to them, the New York Rangers, Toronto, it won't just be the teams with a lot of cap room. It'll be teams (saying), like, 'Okay, if I have to move a mountain to get Mikko Rantanen, we're going to try to do it.'
Additionally, podcaster and former player Paul Bissonnette loves the idea of the Maple Leafs letting Marner walk and signing Rantanen in his place.
Let's say playoffs didn't go that positive for the Toronto Maple Leafs. And maybe you get a similar type of performance out of Marner that you saw last year where we can get into the age-old argument, like he wasn't a liability, per se. But, he definitely wasn't regular-season Mitch. So if they were to move on from Mitch Marner and not re-sign him, I would definitely go after Rantanen. I would overpay him to do so.
Both Marner and Rantanen are set to become a pair of the highest profile free agents hitting the market at the same time.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 15 | 90 ANSWERS NHL analyst links star Mikko Rantanen to the Atlantic Division in free agency Where will Mikko Rantanen play next year? | ||
| Carolina Hurricanes | 18 | 20 % |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 14 | 15.6 % |
| Other | 58 | 64.4 % |
| List of polls | ||